Falling 100 feet over steep walls streaked with gneiss and mica schist, Rainbow Falls is a stunner, especially in the spring when the azaleas are in bloom. Just next to Gorges State Park in the Pisgah National Forest, is the impressive 150ft tall Rainbow Falls of North Carolina. Rainbow Falls NC: the hike. Getting Started. Location: State Rd S-39-92 and Water Falls Rd. A series of cascades are found below the main falls themselves. If this lot is full, there's an auxiliary parking area about a tenth-of-a-mile further down the road. S.C. has 400+ hiking trails across the state, offering something for every type of hiker – whether you want to see cool waterfalls or you want to rack up some serious miles. Location: Jones Gap and Rainbow Falls Trail; 15. Hiking in South Carolina. From the parking lot follow the signs to the visitors center and then follow the signs to Jones Gap Trail. Pickens, SC – Hiking Trip – Day 4 – Rainbow Falls Following the same pattern, we got up fairly early to do another hike – Rainbow Falls . In the upstate, take Hwy 11 towards Table Rock State Park and make a right onto River Falls Rd., this will take you straight to the park. Registering with the park before using these trails is mandatory. Hike another 0.2 mile and follow Tamassee creek upstream to a point where the trail gets very rocky and obstructed. The first and third will be wider-style foot bridges where the second is a narrow log bridge with a railing. In the past, it was possible to access the falls from Camp Greenville, but this is a very steep and dangerous route. I would rate this hike a moderate-to-difficult. At the end of the trail there are two sections, and you'll have the cross the lower section by rocks to reach the trail that goes up to the upper section to reach the higher falls. Twin Falls Trail. Where to go hiking in South Carolina. The trail quickly grows more challenging. The marked trail ends at Rainbow Falls, however hikers can continue upstream about 1/4 mile to Turtleback Falls. The trail accesses the Horse Pasture River and follows it upstream. This is a Strenuous out and back trail in Jones Gap State park. Rainbow Falls & Rainbow Falls Trail. Rainbow Falls in Jones Gap State Park. It is an amazing 2.3-mile hike that is just some distance from Sunset South Carolina. 3 Rainbow Falls Trail. Reaching Rainbow Falls is a very strenuous five-mile round-trip hike. Falls Creek Falls Trail is a hard, 1.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail near River Falls, SC. Rainbow Falls Trail #4 is marked Red Blaze, rated as Very Strenuous by the Ranger Station, 1.5 miles one way with a recommended 2 hour out and back time. This popular trail is jointly maintained by Gorges State Park and the Pisgah Ranger District. Rainbow Falls: This one is postcard material. Waterfalls are gorgeous. This trail starts from the Jones Gap Trail. Rainbow Falls drops 100 feet over steep walls streaked with black and tan from the alternating layers of amphibolite gneiss, granitic gneiss, and mica schist. Our state may not be the first thing you think of when you think of great hiking – but it definitely should. The Rainbow falls trail is pretty well marked. Glad we did the more strenuous trail to the large falls first. At the end of the last field, the trail enters the woods. There are some bridges to cross and lots of nature to see. I have reported on this trail previously. This update includes a suggestion for when the water is low enough to get all the way up to the falls themselves. The Hike -- Jones Gap Trail to Rainbow Falls Trail and back Jones Gap State Park -- South Carolina -- December 26th, 2011 Jones Gap State Park features a variety of trails, and one of the best leads to Jones Gap Falls – a 50-foot cascade over a staircase of stones. Trail Description: The first two-thirds of a mile along the Rainbow Falls Trail is a steady climb through a large boulder field. The trailhead to Rainbow Falls starts just past the visitors center on the other side of the Middle Saluda River. Located in the Cobbly Nob Golf Resort area, and named after the popular Rainbow Falls area of the national park, it has easy access and is within close distances of the national park and picnic areas. Getting to the Trail The trail is located in Jones Gap State Park. Hiking is more strenuous than at Paris Mountain State Park. The trail ends at a beautiful and gorgeous, 100-foot waterfall plunging over a granite cliff face. The Jones Gap State Park trails allow hikers to traverse between the two parks, as well as connect to a portion of the Foothills Trail and Palmetto Trail South Carolina hikers know and love. One of the highlights of Jones Gap State Park is Rainbow Falls. Within the first part of the trail, there will be 3 bridges to cross. At the end of the trail there are two sections, and you'll have the cross the lower section by rocks to reach the trail that goes up to the upper section to reach the higher falls. You'll be climbing 1,000 feet over a … Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! It starts as an uphill climb and continues to be that way for a while. Just a short drive and an uphill hike from #yeahthatgreenville. Hike through the woods for 0.3 mile and take the left fork, crossing a creek , and head toward the larger branch of Tamassee Creek. This trail feature three waterfalls and is accessible year-round. Description. Le Conte, but most day hikers turn around once they reach the falls. The new Rainbow Falls Trail in Greenville County opened in the spring of 2008 and immediately ranked as one of the most spectacular short hikes in the state. This trail starts from the Jones Gap Trail. The 1+ mile climb from the trail intersection to the falls is moderate-to-strenuous as it ascends over 1000 feet. Rainbow Falls Trail is a steep 4.3 mile hike located in Jones Gap State Park that features waterfall, forest, footbridges and bird watching, and is rated as difficult. This trail, because of its difficulty is better suited for hikers who are slightly experienced. Trails and 13,000 acres of pristine mountain woodlands join the park with Caesars Head in what is known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. #canon7d #hiking #hikingphotography #trailphotos #jonesgapstatepark #jonesgap #waterfall #rainbowfalls #rainbowfallssc #nature #naturephotography #waterfallphotography It’s 2.7 miles uphill to the falls. This trail is popular with children and pets as well, but it’s no joke. This one was in the Jones Gap State Park , which does require a $6 parking fee per person (kids and seniors are less). The main way to get to the falls is through Jones Gap State Park. It’s very similar to nearby Rainbow Falls Trail, except this trail has no switchbacks to help you manage the elevation. You are less than 0.2 mile from the falls. The trail winds downhill through a ridge-top forest and intersects an old roadbed just after a hairpin turn. Get the forecast for today, tonight & tomorrow's weather for Rainbow Falls, SC. Rainbow Falls at Gorges State Park is one of my favorite waterfalls and trails in our area. You'll start on the Jones Gap Trail, but after 3/4 of a mile, the trail splits and you'll follow the red blazed trail up the mountain to the waterfall. We discovered there is a relatively easy climb up the right side. If you visit Rainbow Falls in the spring, you will not only be treated to seeing water falling 100 feet from steep walls, but the wild azaleas are in full bloom. Description. In the spring, azalea, meadow rue, and Solomon's plume envelope many of the boulders. return - 3.6 mi, +57 ft. Bike ride in Greenville County, SC Here’s what you can expect from the trailhead up: Early on, the trail is graveled and the going easy. After driving roughly 0.6 miles on the loop, the Rainbow Falls Trailhead will be located on your right. Rainbow Falls is an amazing 100-foot freefall over a cliff face. To get to Rainbow falls you will initially follow the blue blazed Jones Gap Trail for … Rainbow Falls is the big payoff, but there’s so much more along the way. Within the first part of the trail, there will be 3 bridges to cross. But it's a strenuous hike to get to it. Trails include (mileage shown is one-way): Cleveland Connector (0.5 mile) Coldspring Branch (2.6 miles) Jones Gap NRT #1 (Jones Gap Falls) (5.3 miles) Hospital Rock #30 (4.4 miles) Rainbow Falls Trail (2.2 miles) Plunging over a granite cliff surrounded by granite walls, Rainbow Falls is spectacular. Between April and November, you can come and have fun seeing the waterfalls and enjoying the products of nature. The trail actually starts with an unforgiving uphill climb. Rainbow Falls Trail. It’s an additional 1.2 miles from the parking lot to the Rainbow Falls Trailhead, so you’re looking at a ~4½-mile out-and-back hike. Trails are basically rocks, sand, streams, and roots. We spent 3 1/2 hours at the park and only managed 2 of the shorter trails. Detailed trail maps are available for sale at the park headquarters. From there the trail is pretty straight forward. To access the falls start by hiking from the ranger station down to Jones Gap Trail.After a nice but steep trail, climb on Rainbow Falls Trail until you'll reach Rainbow Falls. From the very beginning, you can hear the roar of the Horsepasture River in the valley far below, which you'll reach in about 1 mile. To access the falls start by running from the ranger station down to Jones Gap Trail.After a nice but steep trail, climb on Rainbow Falls Trail until you'll reach Rainbow Falls. Like most waterfalls in South Carolina, the falls are at … Rainbow Falls, Jones Gap State Park. This is a beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath 2 story cabin that offers great views and a light and airy feel with its design and furnishings. Sunset, SC (Free parking) Twin Falls is a set of beautiful cascading waterfalls which join together, with a mesmerizing height near 75 feet. The trail is 1.9 miles from the trailhead to the falls, making it a nearly 4-mile out-and-back hike. The hike departs from the Grassy Ridge trailhead in Gorges State Park, near Cashiers, NC (view maps and driving directions).Gorges State Park is one of the newest in North Carolina’s state park system, and with an annual rainfall of over 80 inches, the park classifies as a temperate rain forest. The trail itself keeps going to the top of Mt. So know this going in…this isn’t exactly just a … The waterfall is enormous, and you can get a really good view from the overlook on the trail or you can take a smaller trail down to the bottom of the falls … 10. View Trail Okay the Rainbow Falls Trail is popular, but it’s also pretty intense. The trail follows the Middle Saluda River, making for a beautiful hike along the way. Rainbow Falls Trail #4 is marked Red Blaze, rated as Very Strenuous by the Ranger Station, 1.5 miles one way with a recommended 2 hour out and back time. In the spring, azalea, meadow rue, and Solomon's plume envelope many of the boulders. Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls at Gorges State Park. The state park opened a trail to the falls and this is now the official way to reach it. You may feel a sense of accomplishment as you realize how gentle the ascent is, but don’t get too comfortable. 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